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' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES S. TOPHAM, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

HAME TUG AND BUCKLE.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 28,700, dated June 12, 14860.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J AMES S. TOPHAM, of Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hame Tugs and Buckles; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The nature of my invention consists in construct-ing tugs and buckles in the particular manner hereinafter set forth.

In the annexed drawings Figure l represents a longitudinal vertical section of the buckle. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section of the same. Fig. 3 is longitudinal section of the hame tug and Fig. 4 is a side view of the same. Fig. 5 is a view of the clip which is secured to the hame tug.

In the ligures A, represents the boxes, or bodies, of the tug, and the buckle; which are intended to be made of metal. The shape of both will be very much the same but their lengths will vary, the tug being made from nine to fifteen inches long, while the buckle is only intended to be made from two to four inches long. A pin B, is common to both the buckle and the tug, and the fastening which holds this pin may be the same in each or it may vary as is shown in Figs. l and 2 and Fig. 3. This pin B, is provided with a large head,l so that it cannot draw out, of the buckle or tug-after once being secured in. This pin seen in the tug Fig. 3, is provided near its upper end with a screw, which screws into the body of the tug and secures it fast when it is desired. In the buckle the pin is provided with a small cross pin which passes through a slot made lengthwise of the buckle, and when pushed through and turned partially around lits in a groove or slot made cross wise of the buckle on the inside as seen in Fig. 2. These fastenings may be the same in each case, the invention consisting more particularly in providing the pin with a head which passes into one side of the metal of the tug or buckle but which cannot come out of the other side to prevent the said pin from losing out if at any time it should become loose. A small spring on the inside of the buckle presses the small cross pin snugly into the cross groove and prevents it from coming out and from turning around.

D, represents the clip which secures the tug to the hame. This clip, it will be seen, is made in two parts; each part being beveled or shaped and provided with a shoulder, so that they fit when brought together as seen and form a lap joint. The two parts are secured together and to the tug by means of screws, c, c, Fig. 3. The advantage of making clips in this way and attaching them to the tug is that when one breaks, it may be remade by any one owning the harness to which it is attached and a new one may be put on at very little expense.

It will be seen in Fig. 4L, that the outside of the tug may be made in any ornamental shape. Beautiful designs may be wrought or cut in it, and when plated, it will present a very pleasing, and attractive appearance. The metal may be cut away so that the tug may be made much lighter than it other wise could, at the same time it will be ornamental.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The arrangement of the tug A, the clip D, and the pin B-the clip being in two parts and screwed to the tug, and the pin being provided with a head on one end and a screw near the other when the same are used substantially as and for the purpose speciied.

JAMES S. TOPHAM.

Vitnesses:

C. M. ALEXANDER, A. A. YEATMAN. 

